Disclaimer: I'm not JKR. 'Nuff said.


Ron had seen that boy on the platform, and he had decided that he liked him.
He seemed lonely, in need of a friend, and rather... well, nice.
When Ron heard that this was Harry Potter, he couldn't believe his ears. The twins had to have made a joke. The boy didn't look like a saviour, not like a story book hero.
He looked like someone Ron could make a friend with. He'd never had a friend from outside the family before.
Ron went down the train. There were a few empty compartments, and some that were either full of first years, or filled with some of the older years. Ron was pretty sure that he wouldn't be welcome in any of the ones with people in them, and he didn't want to sit alone.
Then, he spotted the boy in a compartment.
He didn't quite know what to do. He didn't want him to think that he was just sitting there because he might be Harry Potter.
Then, he took all his courage and opened the compartment door. He asked one question, pointing to the seat opposite of the boy.
"Anyone sitting there? Everywhere else is full."
It was a lie, of course. He'd seen empty compartments after all. But everywhere else where he might be welcome was indeed full, and he wanted to make friends with the other boy. A half-lie, then, a white one.
The boy shook his head, and Ron seated himself. He felt awkward. He didn't quite know what to do.
That was pretty much the first time he was grateful the twins showed up.